"Terrorism" describes the ways a band of fanatics bring an entire nation to its knees. Whether terrorism involves kidnapping, hijacking, bombing, or other threats, the response of civilized nations is the same: Special Forces. For the first time, the incredible story of today's newest form of warfare gets an authoritative treatment that chronicles how the forces are organized, armed, trained, and deployed, as well as their weapons and intelligence methods. Reports show Special Forces in action throughout the world, with detailed analyses that range from early victories at Entebbe to the more recent operation at the Iranian Embassy in London. A Selection of the Military Book Club.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Over the past 30-some years, political splinter groups throughout the world increasingly have used terrorism to advance their goals, resulting mostly in murder, public outrage and manhunts, rather than the realization of political or economic goals. The reason, says Harclerode (Unholy Babylon, etc.), a former member of Britain's Irish Guards, is that governments around the world have poured an enormous effort into fighting fire with fire. With a nod to younger readers who may not remember the origins of airplane hijackings, this exhaustive survey of British, U.S. and other counterterrorist units and missions includes a detailed tutorial on the emergence of terrorism, before heading into a blow-by-blow account of the events leading to 1976's Operation Thunderball, when crack Israeli troops rescued hostages from a hijacked airliner at Entebbe, Uganda. Here we also watch the unfolding of Operation Nimrod in 1980, when British Special Air Service troops rescued hostages held captive inside the Iranian embassy in London. Heavy on violence and acronyms, the work underscores the point that terrorists do indeed terrorize but that, ultimately, they lose. Their tactics are not tolerated by established governments, and are heavily countermanded by highly trained troops. Harclerode's presentation is at times weighty; one endless chapter runs to nearly 100 pages. But this is a complex topic that clearly has been thoroughly researched here, and the author's valuable overview puts horrifying events in perspective. Photos. (June) Forecast: The main hypothetical argument for a U.S. missile shield's deployment is terrorism. As one of the most thorough overviews of conventional counterterrorism techniques and engagements, this book may draw those trying to think through their positions, though the heavily U.K. perspective makes it less enticing.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
Peter Harclerode was commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1967, serving in the UK, Middle East and Far East. He has also served in the SAS and the Parachute Regiment. Colonel Mike Dewar saw extensive service in Northern Ireland wi
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
In today's lesson: counterterrorism,
By A Customer
This review is from: Secret Soldiers: Special Forces in the War Against Terrorism (Hardcover)
To dive right into it: this is a must-have space filling object in the already-read-and-want-to-read-again-department of your bookcase when you're the slightest bit interested in counterterrorism. This book provides a excellent overview of 30 years of terrorism and counterterrorism, worldwide. Although in my opinion too concise in certain points, and the chapters 1 to 3 are 'guilty' of this because of their dry summary of (practically) every terrorist act in these past 30 years (my advice: don't read these chapters consecutively in one day), the overview is detailed, extensive and complete. Especially the chapters regarding to some of the most important counterterrorist operations (for example the raid on Entebbe, and the assault of the Iranian Embassy in London, as well as thirty years of activities in Northern Ireland) are very interesting and may give some new information to the relative layman. These chapters also puts the motives for the terrorists and their acts in a historical point of view, which provides a better comprehension of these acts. And to top it all, I've learned about counterterrorist units I didn't know existed (for example the American ISA or the French 29SA)....... and I have read quite a few books on the subject.Beside chapters 1-3, the last minor downside in this book is the overextensive attention drawn to the invasion of Grenada by the US military in 1983. Although the counterterrorist units Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 were involved, this operation can not be considered a counterterrorist operation; the use of the word 'invasion' was deliberate. Even the writer points this out after the story about the operation. These cost the book its fifth point, but just marginally so. Again, for any one interested in the suject: you must have this book as a referncebook, but better to read it; once you have started in this very good read, it's difficult to close it..... and you just get motivated to know more. The world feels just a bitter saver just for knowing the contents of this book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great read!,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Secret Soldiers: Special Forces in the War Against Terrorism (Cassell Military Paperbacks) (Paperback)
My only complaint about this book is it should have been written as a series of 3 or 4 books. There's is a ton of info in the book, though sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming (especially in the first few chapters).Lots of information that I never knew, even though this is a subject I love to read up on. The author is able to keep all the info interesting and exciting to read. Lost a lot of sleep by staying up too lake on worknights reading this darned book. :) A great read for those just getting into terrorism / counterterrorism research, or for the old pros.
4.0 out of 5 stars
In today's lesson: counterterrorism,
By A Customer
This review is from: Secret Soldiers: Special Forces in the War Against Terrorism (Hardcover)
To dive right into it: this is a must-have space filling object in the already-read-and-want-to-read-again-department of your bookcase when you're the slightest bit interested in counterterrorism. This book provides a excellent overview of 30 years of terrorism and counterterrorism, worldwide. Although in my opinion too concise in certain points, and the chapters 1 to 3 are 'guilty' of this because of their dry summary of (practically) every terrorist act in these past 30 years (my advice: don't read these chapters consecutively in one day), the overview is detailed, extensive and complete. Especially the chapters regarding to some of the most important counterterrorist operations (for example the raid on Entebbe, and the assault of the Iranian Embassy in London, as well as thirty years of activities in Northern Ireland) are very interesting and may give some new information to the relative layman. These chapters also puts the motives for the terrorists and their acts in a historical point of view, which provides a better comprehension of these acts. And to top it all, I've learned about counterterrorist units I didn't know existed (for example the American ISA or the French 29SA)....... and I have read quite a few books on the subject.Beside chapters 1-3, the last minor downside in this book is the overextensive attention drawn to the invasion of Grenada by the US military in 1983. Although the counterterrorist units Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 were involved, this operation can not be considered a counterterrorist operation; the use of the word 'invasion' was deliberate. Even the author points this out after the story about the operation. These cost the book its fifth point, but just marginally so. Again, for any one interested in the suject: you must have this book as a referncebook, but better to read it; once you have started in this very good read, it's difficult to close it..... and you just get motivated to know more. The world feels just a bitter saver just for knowing the contents of this book.
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